这项工作是由美国国立卫生研究院授予NS065183和启动从罗格斯大学罗伯特·伍德·约翰逊医学院的资金支持。

1。准备大鼠星形胶质细胞培养的条件培养基和星形胶质细胞，神经元共培养。 <ol><li>准备剥离缓冲液（BSS，请参阅表1配方），并在4℃下储存，直到准备使用。 </li><li>麻醉新生幼鼠（P0-P2），异氟醚在500毫升烧杯中。 </li><li>当幼崽是不动的，喷以70％乙醇和杀头。 </li><li>消除大脑。 <ol><li>有一对杜蒙＃5镊子紧紧握住头部，并用细剪刀透过皮肤和颅骨，使正中切口。 </li><li>揭露大脑通过反射头骨向两侧，并取出脑入含冷BSS的一道菜。 </li></ol></li><li>从下一个解剖范围间脑和脑干分离大脑半球。小心通过稳定的组织与一对镊子，轻轻拉扯脑膜与另一双钳取出所有脑膜。 </li><li>收集所有半球我n一个60毫米菜。使用小剪刀，切末组织为细越好。然后将剁碎的组织转移到50毫升锥形管中。 </li><li>加入1.5毫升1％DNA酶I和1.5ml的2.5％胰蛋白酶和12ml的BSS（15毫升的总体积）的至大脑。在37℃下孵育在振荡水浴15分钟以确保良好混合，管是由手工旋动，每隔5分钟。 </li><li>通过70微米的细胞过滤网转移了一个新的50ml锥形管中的上清液。加3毫升FBS该上清液。 </li><li>到剩余的片，加13.5毫升BSS和1.5ml 2.5％胰蛋白酶和孵化在摇动水浴另一个15分钟。 </li><li>通过细胞过滤网传输剩余的上清液，并结合来自步骤1.8的上清液。 </li><li>离心机在1,000 rpm离心5分钟以沉淀细胞。 </li><li>重悬浮颗粒在5毫升胶质媒体。上清液可以再次离心以沉淀剩余的细胞。 </li><li>使用血细胞计数器计数细胞。 </li><li> CEL板LS为1×10 7每150cm 2培养瓶的密度。 </li><li>电镀后的一天改变媒体的新鲜胶质媒体。随后，喂细胞每周两次与胶质媒体。 </li><li>当电池已达到&gt; 80％汇合（电镀后约10天），冷冻细胞向下以90％马血清和10％DMSO中，并保持库存在液氮中。将细胞冷冻在2×10 6每小瓶。约5小瓶可以从每个瓶中进行冷冻保存。 </li><li>设立海马培养前约10-14天，神经胶质细胞从冷冻的库存镀。我们通常板5 6孔板中，这是足够的，以支持90盖玻片海马神经元（每孔3至15毫米的圆形盖玻片）的生长。我们还板胶质细胞的额外的8至10 60mm的培养皿，其用于调节N2.1媒体进行转染。一天的神经元培养前，细胞必须与NB27媒体喂养。星形胶质细胞最好应&gt; 90％汇合在日是点。我们发现，冷冻大大减少了在星形胶质细胞培养物的小胶质细胞的数量。从什么时候开始的小胶质细胞是存在于星形胶质细胞培养神经毒性增加观察，我们总是用冷冻库存准备共同培养的神经元与星形胶质细胞培养。 </li></ol> 2。神经细胞培养<ol><li>干净的玻璃盖玻片在超纯水2X第一清洗。然后，他们在浓硝酸浸泡24小时，并用超纯水进行至少五次以上共2小时的。盖玻片通过在225℃下进行6小时的烘箱中烘烤干燥和灭菌。 </li><li>灭菌后转移盖玻片60毫米的菜肴。放置四个点无菌石蜡的每个盖玻片的外边缘附近，以保持神经元的神经胶质细胞的共培养中分离出来。 </li><li>外套盖玻片用1毫克/毫升的聚-L-赖氨酸在0.1M硼酸盐缓冲液中过夜，37℃培养箱中培养。 </li><li>第二天，在无菌米冲洗盖玻片两次illiQ水每个至少15分钟。然后，他们培养过夜电镀媒体在37℃培养箱中培养。 </li><li>异氟醚麻醉后气胸安乐死孕鼠（E18），并斩首安乐死大鼠胚胎。移除大脑和剖析了上述的大脑半球。 </li><li>从大脑半球解剖出海马。将所有海马入15ml锥形管中，并用0.25％的胰蛋白酶（0.5毫升2.5％的胰蛋白酶，4.5毫升BSS）在37℃消化15分钟。 </li><li>消化海马漂洗在BSS 3倍，每次5分钟。然后将它们用玻璃巴斯德吸管研磨，细胞密度是通过使用血细胞计数器确定。神经元，然后在每60毫米培养皿2×10 5个细胞的密度接种。 </li><li>约2-4小时后镀，转移与神经元连接到包含星形胶质细胞的菜盖玻片，用神经元朝下向神经胶质细胞。在DIV3，阿糖胞苷添加到细胞在5μM的最终浓度来停止神经胶质细胞的增殖。 </li></ol> 3。钙转<ol><li>条件N2.1介质上转染前一天的神经胶质细胞。 </li><li>在转染当天，取空调N2.1媒体关闭胶质细胞并转移到一个新的菜。转移盖玻片与神经元到空调N2.1媒体。让我们在平衡孵化10-30分钟。 </li><li>给一组无菌试管中，结合1-4的DNA微克，12.5微升的2M的CaCl 2，和无菌H 2 O的为100微升的总体积。到第二组管中，加100μL2×HBS的。 </li><li>一次添加2×HBS的⅛体积（12.5微升）到含有氯化钙2 / DNA混合物的管，每次旋动几秒钟。让管坐15分钟。 </li><li> 15分钟后，温育后，将转染混合物逐滴加入到细胞中。孵育1-1.5小时。砂状沉淀一层应该是可见的使用10X物镜的显微镜下。 </li><li>孵育后，冲洗盖玻片两次用温水哈佛商学院的洗涤缓冲液。 </li><li>返回盖玻片原菜胶质细胞，犬尿喹啉酸添加到0.5mM的终浓度。 </li><li>转染的神经元可现场进行成像或早，第二天处理的免疫细胞。转染后的神经元能够存活长达三个星期。 </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Karra, D., Dahm, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfection+techniques+for+neuronal+cells.">Transfection techniques for neuronal cells.</a> J. Neurosci. 30, 6171-6177 (2010).</li><li>Zeitelhofer, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-efficiency+transfection+of+mammalian+neurons+via+nucleofection.">High-efficiency transfection of mammalian neurons via nucleofection.</a> Nat. Protoc. 2, 1692-1704 (2007).</li><li>Janas, J., Skowronski, J., Van Aelst, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lentiviral+delivery+of+RNAi+in+hippocampal+neurons.">Lentiviral delivery of RNAi in hippocampal neurons.</a> Method Enzymol. 406, 593-605 (2006).</li><li>Graham, F. L., vander Eb, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+technique+for+the+assay+of+infectivity+of+human+adenovirus+5+DNA.">A new technique for the assay of infectivity of human adenovirus 5 DNA.</a> Virology. 52, 456-467 (1973).</li><li>Craig, A. M., Banker, G. a. G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfecting+cultured+neurons.">Transfecting cultured neurons.</a> Culturing Nerve Cells. , (1998).</li><li>Alavian, K. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bcl-xL+regulates+metabolic+efficiency+of+neurons+through+interaction+with+the+mitochondrial+F1FO+ATP+synthase.">Bcl-xL regulates metabolic efficiency of neurons through interaction with the mitochondrial F1FO ATP synthase.</a> Nat. Cell Biol. 13, 1224-1233 (2011).</li><li>Zhang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modulation+of+synaptic+function+by+VAC14,+a+protein+that+regulates+the+phosphoinositides+PI(3,5)P(2)+and+PI(5)P.">Modulation of synaptic function by VAC14, a protein that regulates the phosphoinositides PI(3,5)P(2) and PI(5)P.</a> EMBO J. 31, 3442-3456 (2012).</li><li>Dudek, H., Ghosh, A., Greenberg, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+phosphate+transfection+of+DNA+into+neurons+in+primary+culture.">Calcium phosphate transfection of DNA into neurons in primary culture.</a> Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. Chapter 3, Unit 3 11 (2001).</li><li>Goslin, K. A. H., Banker, G., Banker, G. a. G. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rat+Hippocampal+Neurons+in+Low-Density+Culture.">Rat Hippocampal Neurons in Low-Density Culture.</a> Culturing Nerve Cells. , (1998).</li><li>Kohrmann, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fast,+convenient,+and+effective+method+to+transiently+transfect+primary+hippocampal+neurons.">Fast, convenient, and effective method to transiently transfect primary hippocampal neurons.</a> J. Neurosci. Res. 58, 831-835 (1999).</li><li>Jiang, M., Chen, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+Ca2+-phosphate+transfection+efficiency+in+low-density+neuronal+cultures.">High Ca2+-phosphate transfection efficiency in low-density neuronal cultures.</a> Nat. Protoc. 1, 695-700 (2006).</li><li>Goetze, B., Grunewald, B., Baldassa, S., Kiebler, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemically+controlled+formation+of+a+DNA/calcium+phosphate+coprecipitate:+application+for+transfection+of+mature+hippocampal+neurons.">Chemically controlled formation of a DNA/calcium phosphate coprecipitate: application for transfection of mature hippocampal neurons.</a> J. Neurobiol. 60, 517-525 (2004).</li></ol>

有兴趣的无冲突的声明。

有迹象表明，需要仔细控制的一贯成功转染10,11几个关键参数。对于磷酸钙转染的最关键的参数是2×HBS，这在我们手中，通常7.10-7.15之间变化的pH值。我们建议将三批股票随pH值在0.05增量占pH计之间的差异。或者，Clontech公司哺乳动物转染试剂盒提供2倍哈佛商学院，始终产生良好的效益。记住，将溶液的pH值将甚至当在冰箱中存放随时间而改变。我们一般保持2倍哈佛商学院的分装于4℃下长?...

原代神经元是最难的细胞类型，转染，因为它们是有丝分裂后，并以微环境的变化非常敏感的一个。有四种常用的类型的，在这些单元电池1的外源基因和短发夹RNA（的shRNA）的表达的方法。每个人都有自己的优点和缺点。例如，电穿孔，通常在新鲜分离的神经元2执行的，作为细胞必须被转移到比色杯中进行转染。病毒感染通常可以达到非常高的效率3，但更多的劳动力密集型和高风险的运营商。许多脂质介导的转染试剂是市售的，具有不同程度的神经元和不同程度的细胞毒性的成功。 磷酸钙转染代表了外源基因引入神经元既方便又经济的方法。该方法首先被用于引入腺病毒DNA导入哺乳动物CELLS由Graham和van der EB（1973）4。转染通过混合氯化钙与磷酸盐缓冲液的重组DNA进行。这使得DNA /磷酸钙形成沉淀，当逐渐下降到细胞单层，坚持到细胞表面，均是由内吞作用，最后进入细胞核5。这个过程将导致在靶细胞引入外源基因的表达。之间的0.5-5％6-8磷酸钙转染范围典型效率。然而，通过仔细的优化和实验方案的一致的执行，因此能够达到几乎50％的转染效率。在这里，我们描述了我们详细的协议，用于原代海马神经元，这是在一个三明治格式9共培养与星形胶质细胞的磷酸钙转染。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="879">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:284px;">Dumont #5 forceps</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11251-20</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Fine scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14090-09</td>
			<td>straight / sharp 8.5 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Vannas-Tubinger spring scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15008-08</td>
			<td>angled / sharp / 8.5 cm / 5 mm cutting edge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Standard pattern forceps</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11000-16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Student surgical scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">91401-14</td>
			<td>blunt / 14.5 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Spring scissors</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15006-09</td>
			<td>angled to side / 9 cm / 10 mm cutting edge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Isoflurane</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Webster Veterinary</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14043-225-06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Poly-L-lysine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P2636</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MEM</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M2279</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">100 mM Sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S8636</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Glucose</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10x HBSS</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H4385</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">1 M HEPES, pH 7.3</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15630-080</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>35050-061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Neurobasal Media</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>21130-049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">B27 Supplement (50x)</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>17504-044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">N2 Supplement</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td>17502-048</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ovalbumin</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A5503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15070-063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">2.5% Trypsin</td>
			<td>Gibco/Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15090-046</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">DNase I</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">DN-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:284px;">Cytosine arabinoside</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Calbiochem/EMD Millipore</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">251010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:284px;">Kynurenic acid</td>
			<td style="width:207px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">K3375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

calcium phosphate transfection of primary hippocampal neurons

磷酸钙沉淀是用于培养细胞的转染的便利和经济的方法。以优化，因此能够对难以转染细胞如原代神经元使用此方法。在这里，我们描述了我们详细的协议进行共培养与星形胶质细胞海马神经元的磷酸钙转染。

当转染的不同的参数进行了优化，并小心地从试验对照试验，有可能获得高达50％的转染效率， 图1显示了在DIV4用GFP神经元的一个字段。该字段包含一个共有28个神经元，其中16转染的。这代表了超过50％的效率。在相同的盖玻片等领域的采样示出了整体的效率大约是50％（数据未示出）。与星形胶质细胞共培养系统，神经元保持健康和转染后正常发育。 图2显示了海马神经...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons at JoVE.com

Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

原代海马神经元的磷酸钙转染

Calcium phosphate precipitation is a convenient and economical method for transfection of cultured cells. With optimization, it is possible to use this ...

calcium-phosphate-transfection-of-primary-hippocampal-neurons

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JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

25.0K 次观看.  Rutgers University. 磷酸钙沉淀是用于培养细胞的转染的便利和经济的方法。以优化，因此能够对难以转染细胞如原代神经元使用此方法。在这里，我们描述了我们详细的协议进行共培养与星形胶质细胞海马神经元的磷酸钙转染。 

视频: Calcium Phosphate Transfection of Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Nucleofection and Primary Culture of Embryonic Mouse Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and synapse formation and function. An advantage of culturing these neurons is that they readily polarize, forming distinctive axons and dendrites, on a two dimensional substrate at very low densities. This property has made them extremely useful for determining many aspects of neuronal development. Furthermore, by providing glial conditioning for these neurons they will continue to develop, forming functional synaptic connections and surviving for several months in culture. In this protocol we outline a technique to dissect, culture and transfect embryonic mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Transfection is accomplished by electroporating DNA into the neurons before plating via nucleofection. This protocol has the advantage of expressing fluorescently-tagged fusion proteins early in development (~4-8hrs after plating) to study the dynamics and function of proteins during polarization, axon outgrowth and branching. We have also discovered that this single transfection before plating maintains fluorescently-tagged fusion protein expression at levels appropriate for imaging throughout the lifetime of the neuron (&gt; 2 months in culture). Thus, this methodology is useful for studying protein localization and function throughout CNS development with little or no disruption of neuronal function.

This protocol outlines the steps required to dissect, transfect via electroporation and culture mouse hippocampal and cortical neurons. Short-term cultures may be used for studies of axon outgrowth and guidance, while long-term cultures can be used for studies of synaptogenesis and dendritic spine analysis.

Nucleofection和胚胎小鼠海马和皮层神经元的原代培养

Hippocampal and cortical neurons have been used extensively to study central nervous system (CNS) neuronal polarization, axon/dendrite outgrowth, and ...

科研

神经科学

Isolation and Culture of Hippocampal Neurons from Prenatal Mice

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual neurons, researchers are able to analyze properties related to cellular trafficking, cellular structure and individual protein localization using a variety of biochemical techniques. Results from such experiments are critical for testing theories addressing the neural basis of memory and learning. However, unambiguous results from these forms of experiments are predicated on the ability to grow neuronal cultures with minimum contamination by other brain cell types. In this protocol, we use specific media designed for neuron growth and careful dissection of embryonic hippocampal tissue to optimize growth of healthy neurons while minimizing contaminating cell types (i.e. astrocytes). Embryonic mouse hippocampal tissue can be more difficult to isolate than similar rodent tissue due to the size of the sample for dissection. We show detailed dissection techniques of hippocampus from embryonic day 19 (E19) mouse pups. Once hippocampal tissue is isolated, gentle dissociation of neuronal cells is achieved with a dilute concentration of trypsin and mechanical disruption designed to separate cells from connective tissue while providing minimum damage to individual cells. A detailed description of how to prepare pipettes to be used in the disruption is included. Optimal plating densities are provided for immuno-fluorescence protocols to maximize successful cell culture. The protocol provides a fast (approximately 2 hr) and efficient technique for the culture of neuronal cells from mouse hippocampal tissue.

We provide a protocol for the culture of highly purified hippocampal neurons from prenatal mouse brains without the use of a feeder glial cell layer.

从产前小鼠海马神经元的分离和培养

Primary cultures of rat and murine hippocampal neurons are widely used to reveal cellular mechanisms in neurobiology. By isolating and growing individual ...

Imaging Dendritic Spines of Rat Primary Hippocampal Neurons using Structured Illumination Microscopy

Dendritic spines are protrusions emerging from the dendrite of a neuron and represent the primary postsynaptic targets of excitatory inputs in the brain. Technological advances have identified these structures as key elements in neuron connectivity and synaptic plasticity. The quantitative analysis of spine morphology using light microscopy remains an essential problem due to technical limitations associated with light's intrinsic refraction limit. Dendritic spines can be readily identified by confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy. However, measuring subtle changes in the shape and size of spines is difficult because spine dimensions other than length are usually smaller than conventional optical resolution fixed by light microscopy's theoretical resolution limit of 200 nm.
Several recently developed super resolution techniques have been used to image cellular structures smaller than the 200 nm, including dendritic spines. These techniques are based on classical far-field operations and therefore allow the use of existing sample preparation methods and to image beyond the surface of a specimen. Described here is a working protocol to apply super resolution structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to the imaging of dendritic spines in primary hippocampal neuron cultures. Possible applications of SIM overlap with those of confocal microscopy. However, the two techniques present different applicability. SIM offers higher effective lateral resolution, while confocal microscopy, due to the usage of a physical pinhole, achieves resolution improvement at the expense of removal of out of focus light. In this protocol, primary neurons are cultured on glass coverslips using a standard protocol, transfected with DNA plasmids encoding fluorescent proteins and imaged using SIM. The whole protocol described herein takes approximately 2 weeks, because dendritic spines are imaged after 16-17 days in vitro, when dendritic development is optimal. After completion of the protocol, dendritic spines can be reconstructed in 3D from series of SIM image stacks using specialized software.

This article describes a working protocol to image dendritic spines from hippocampal neurons in vitro using Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM). Super-resolution microscopy using SIM provides image resolution significantly beyond the light diffraction limit in all three spatial dimensions, allowing the imaging of individual dendritic spines with improved detail.

成像大鼠原代海马神经元树突棘使用结构照明显微镜

Dendritic spines are protrusions emerging from the dendrite of a neuron and represent the primary postsynaptic targets of excitatory inputs in the brain. ...

Primary Culture of Mouse Dopaminergic Neurons

Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions such as motor control, motivation, and working memory. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons selectively degenerate in Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD). This progressive neuronal loss is unequivocally associated with the motors symptoms of the pathology (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and muscular rigidity). The main agent responsible of dopaminergic neuron degeneration is still unknown. However, these neurons appear to be extremely vulnerable in diverse conditions. Primary cultures constitute one of the most relevant models to investigate properties and characteristics of dopaminergic neurons. These cultures can be submitted to various stress agents that mimic PD pathology and to neuroprotective compounds in order to stop or slow down neuronal degeneration. The numerous transgenic mouse models of PD that have been generated during the last decade further increased the interest of researchers for dopaminergic neuron cultures. Here, the video protocol focuses on the delicate dissection of embryonic mouse brains. Precise excision of ventral mesencephalon is crucial to obtain neuronal cultures sufficiently rich in dopaminergic cells to allow subsequent studies. This protocol can be realized with embryonic transgenic mice and is suitable for immunofluorescence staining, quantitative PCR, second messenger quantification, or neuronal death/survival assessment.

Dopaminergic neurons play a vital regulatory role in the brain. Their loss is associated with Parkinson's disease. In this video, we show how to generate primary cultures of central dopaminergic neurons from embryonic mouse mesencephalon. Such cultures are useful to study the extreme vulnerability of these neurons to various stresses.

小鼠多巴胺能神经元的原代培养

Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions ...

Fluorescence and Bioluminescence Imaging of Subcellular Ca2+ in Aged Hippocampal Neurons

Susceptibility to neuron cell death associated to neurodegeneration and ischemia are exceedingly increased in the aged brain but mechanisms responsible are badly known. Excitotoxicity, a process believed to contribute to neuron damage induced by both insults, is mediated by activation of glutamate receptors that promotes Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. A substantial change in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis or remodeling of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis may favor neuron damage in old neurons. For investigating Ca2+ remodeling in aging we have used live cell imaging in long-term cultures of rat hippocampal neurons that resemble in some aspects aged neurons in vivo. For this end, hippocampal cells are, in first place, freshly dispersed from new born rat hippocampi and plated on poli-D-lysine coated, glass coverslips. Then cultures are kept in controlled media for several days or several weeks for investigating young and old neurons, respectively. Second, cultured neurons are loaded with fura2 and subjected to measurements of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration using digital fluorescence ratio imaging. Third, cultured neurons are transfected with plasmids expressing a tandem of low-affinity aequorin and GFP targeted to mitochondria. After 24 hr, aequorin inside cells is reconstituted with coelenterazine and neurons are subjected to bioluminescence imaging for monitoring of mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration. This three-step procedure allows the monitoring of cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ responses to relevant stimuli as for example the glutamate receptor agonist NMDA and compare whether these and other responses are influenced by aging. This procedure may yield new insights as to how aging influence cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ responses to selected stimuli as well as the testing of selected drugs aimed at preventing neuron cell death in age-related diseases.

Fluorescence and Bioluminescence Imaging of Subcellular Ca2+ in Aged Hippocampal Neurons

Intracellular Ca2+ remodeling in aging may contribute to excitotoxicity and neuron damage, processes mediated by Ca2+ overload. We aimed at investigating Ca2+ remodeling in the aging brain using fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging of cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ in long-term cultures of rat hippocampal neurons, a model of neuronal aging.

亚细胞钙荧光和生物发光成像<sup&gt; 2+</sup&gt;老年海马神经元

Susceptibility to neuron cell death associated to neurodegeneration and ischemia are exceedingly increased in the aged brain but mechanisms responsible ...

Low-Density Primary Hippocampal Neuron Culture

The ability to probe the structure and physiology of individual nerve cells in culture is crucial to the study of neurobiology, and allows for flexibility in genetic and chemical manipulation of individual cells or defined networks. Such ease of manipulation is simpler in the reduced culture system when compared to the intact brain tissue. While many methods for the isolation and growth of these primary neurons exist, each has its own limitations. This protocol describes a method for culturing low-density and high-purity rodent embryonic hippocampal neurons on glass coverslips, which are then suspended over a monolayer of glial cells. This &#39;sandwich culture&#39; allows for exclusive long-term growth of a population of neurons while allowing for trophic support from the underlying glial monolayer. When neurons are of sufficient age or maturity level, the neuron coverslips can be flipped-out of the glial dish and used in imaging or functional assays. Neurons grown by this method typically survive for several weeks and develop extensive arbors, synaptic connections, and network properties.

This article describes the protocol for culturing low-density primary hippocampal neurons growing on glass coverslips inverted over a glial monolayer. The neuron and glial layers are separated by paraffin wax beads. The neurons grown by this method are suitable for high-resolution optical imaging and functional assays.

低密度原海马神经元文化

The ability to probe the structure and physiology of individual nerve cells in culture is crucial to the study of neurobiology, and allows for flexibility ...

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

During endocytosis, fused synaptic vesicles are retrieved at nerve terminals, allowing for vesicle recycling and thus the maintenance of synaptic transmission during repetitive nerve firing. Impaired endocytosis in pathological conditions leads to decreases in synaptic strength and brain functions. Here, we describe methods used to measure synaptic vesicle endocytosis at the mammalian hippocampal synapse in neuronal culture. We monitored synaptic vesicle protein endocytosis by fusing a synaptic vesicular membrane protein, including synaptophysin and VAMP2/synaptobrevin, at the vesicular lumenal side, with pHluorin, a pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein that increases its fluorescence intensity as the pH increases. During exocytosis, vesicular lumen pH increases, whereas during endocytosis vesicular lumen pH is re-acidified. Thus, an increase of pHluorin fluorescence intensity indicates fusion, whereas a decrease indicates endocytosis of the labelled synaptic vesicle protein. In addition to using the pHluorin imaging method to record endocytosis, we monitored vesicular membrane endocytosis by electron microscopy (EM) measurements of Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) uptake by vesicles. Finally, we monitored the formation of nerve terminal membrane pits at various times after high potassium-induced depolarization. The time course of HRP uptake and membrane pit formation indicates the time course of endocytosis.

Synaptic vesicle endocytosis is detected by light microscopy of pHluorin fused with synaptic vesicle protein and by electron microscopy of vesicle uptake.

海马神经元中突触囊泡吞的测量

During endocytosis, fused synaptic vesicles are retrieved at nerve terminals, allowing for vesicle recycling and thus the maintenance of synaptic ...

Generation of Neurospheres from Mixed Primary Hippocampal and Cortical Neurons Isolated from E14-E16 Sprague Dawley Rat Embryo

Primary neuron culture is an essential technique in the field of neuroscience. To gain deeper mechanistic insights into the brain, it is essential to have a robust in vitro model that can be exploited for various neurobiology studies. Though primary neuron cultures (i.e., long-term hippocampal cultures) have provided scientists with models, it does not yet represent the complexity of brain network completely. In the wake of these limitations, a new model has emerged using neurospheres, which bears a closer resemblance to the brain tissue. The present protocol describes the plating of high and low densities of mixed cortical and hippocampal neurons isolated from the embryo of embryonic day 14-16 Sprague Dawley rats. This allows for the generation of neurospheres and long-term primary neuron culture as two independent platforms to conduct further studies. This process is extremely simple and cost-effective, as it minimizes several steps and reagents previously deemed essential for neuron culture. This is a robust protocol with minimal requirements that can be performed with achievable results and further used for a diversity of studies related to neuroscience.

Presented here is a protocol for the spontaneous generation of neurospheres enriched in neural progenitor cells from high density plated neurons. During the same experiment, when neurons are plated at a lower density, the protocol also results in prolonged primary rat neuron cultures.

从E14-E16斯普拉格·道利大鼠胚胎分离的混合原发希马和皮质神经元生成神经球

Primary neuron culture is an essential technique in the field of neuroscience. To gain deeper mechanistic insights into the brain, it is essential to have ...

Use of Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons to Study the Assembly of Axon Initial Segments

Neuronal axon initial segments (AIS) are sites of initiation of action potentials and have been extensively studied for their molecular structure, assembly and activity-dependent plasticity. Giant ankyrin-G, the master organizer of AIS, directly associates with membrane-spanning voltage gated sodium (VSVG) and potassium channels (KCNQ2/3), as well as 186 kDa neurofascin, a L1CAM cell adhesion molecule. Giant ankyrin-G also binds to and recruits cytoplasmic AIS molecules including beta-4-spectrin, and the microtubule-binding proteins, EB1/EB3 and Ndel1. Giant ankyrin-G is sufficient to rescue AIS formation in ankyrin-G deficient neurons. Ankyrin-G also includes a smaller 190 kDa isoform located at dendritic spines instead of the AIS, which is incapable of targeting to the AIS or rescuing the AIS in ankyrin-G-deficient neurons. Here, we described a protocol using cultured hippocampal neurons from ANK3-E22/23-flox mice, which, when transfected with Cre-BFP exhibit loss of all isoform of ankyrin-G and impair the formation of AIS. Combined a modified Banker glia/neuron co-culture system, we developed a method to transfect ankyrin-G null neurons with a 480 kDa ankyrin-G-GFP plasmid, which is sufficient to rescue the formation of AIS. We further employ a quantification method, developed by Salzer and colleagues to deal with variation in AIS distance from the neuronal cell bodies that occurs in hippocampal neuron cultures. This protocol allows quantitative studies of the de novo assembly and dynamic behavior of AIS.

Here, we described a protocol to quantitatively study the assembly and structure of the axon initial segments (AIS) of hippocampal neurons that lack pre-assembled AIS due to the absence of a giant ankyrin-G.

使用初级培养的希波坎帕神经元来研究Axon初始片段的组装

Neuronal axon initial segments (AIS) are sites of initiation of action potentials and have been extensively studied for their molecular structure, ...

Easy and Reproducible Low-Density Primary Culture using Frozen Stock of Embryonic Hippocampal Neurons

Neuronal culture is a valuable system for evaluating synaptic functions and drug screenings. In particular, a low-density culture of primary hippocampal neurons allows the study of individual neurons or subcellular components. We have shown subcellular protein localization within a neuron by immunocytochemistry, neuronal polarity, synaptic morphology, and its developmental change using a low-density primary hippocampal culture. Recently, ready-to-use frozen stocks of neurons have become commercially available. These frozen stocks of neurons reduce the time needed to prepare animal experiments and also contribute to the reduction of the number of animals used. Here, we introduce a reproducible low-density primary culture method using a 96-well plate. We used a commercially available frozen stock of neurons from the rat embryonic hippocampus. The neurons can be stably cultured long-term without media changes by reducing the growth of glial cells at particular timepoints. This high-throughput assay using low-density culture allows reproducible imaging-based evaluations of synaptic plasticity.

A ready-to-use frozen stock of neurons is a powerful tool for evaluating synaptic functions. Here, we introduce an easy low-density primary culture from frozen stock using a 96-well plate.

使用胚胎海马神经元冷冻原液进行简单且可重复的低密度原代培养

Neuronal culture is a valuable system for evaluating synaptic functions and drug screenings. In particular, a low-density culture of primary hippocampal ...